Israeli views over the Golan
Syria-Israel, Politics, 8/5/1999

The British daily Financial Times said on Tuesday that results of peace talks between Syria and Israel will decide the fate of the Israelis in the Golan Heights.

The paper added that several settlers in the Golan who are realistic believe that the "day of doom" for their stay in the Golan Heights has come, and they agree that the Golan will return to Syria sooner or later.

The paper added that other settlers consider the Golan as a strategic land of interest to the Israeli security and believe it should not be given up. The paper quoted Israeli civil engineer Yagal Kebneis, who lives in the Golan, as saying, "We know that peace with Syria is the option, but we do not know when and how it will come."

Another Israeli engineer, Afi Zeira, who is the chairman of the Golan settlers committee, said, "The Golan is a national question for Israel." He added, "My red lines are that we will not give up the land, and the settlers will not be displaced from the Golan."

The paper said that despite the fact that Zeira admits that the Golan is an occupied territory, he argues this occupation is not an evil thing because it is in the interest Israeli statehood and security, and the question is, "Why should we pay the land as a price for peace."

Previous Stories:
  Azmi Bishara doubts Barak's intentions   (8/4/1999)
  Israelis say peace impossible without withdrawal from Golan   (8/2/1999)
  Syrian defense minister stress importance of peace   (7/31/1999)

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